Beet-topper.



EATENTED MAY 15, 1906.

G. F. CORNER BEET TUE-ER. APPLIQATIOH FILE}; mam. 1963.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

fit/awn :55

UNITED STATES OFFICE.

GEORGE F. UONNER. OF PORT HURON, MICHIGAN.

BE ET -TOPP ER.

resented may 15, 1906.

Original application filed February 2, 1903, Serial No. 141,53. Dividedand this application filed Apri16,3.9fl3. Serial No. 151,291.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. Cessna, a

citizen of the United States of America, and

a resident of the city of Port Huron, county of St. Clair, State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBeet-Toppers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactspecification.

This invention relates to machines for top ping beets, and especially tomeans for accomplishing this before removing them from the ground. 7

Inasmuch as a topping mechanism which embodies the features of theinvention is easily adapted for use in conjunction with beet-pullingmachines, it is hereinafter shown and i lustrated in connection withsuch a machine. Obvious] the puller may at the option of the user e ofany preferred design. As herein illustrated, I show a beet-pullingmachine which is made the subject of my application for Letters Patentoh the United States, Serial No. 141,453, filed February 2, 1903, ofwhich this is a divisional application.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of abeet-harvester provided with a topping mechanism which embodies theprincipal features of the invention herein claimed, parts of the machinebeing broken away to give clear view. Fig. 2 is a view in frontelevation of the topping device. Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation ofthe topping mechanism. Fig. 4 is a view in cross-section through aroller on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a beet-harvesting machinemounted on a pair of traction-wheels B. A part C of the frame of themachine, which extends forward of the mechanism, afiords a convenientplace for the attachment of a draft-riggin 'The beetulling meanscomprise rotata le members which are located between the traction-Wheels and are ada ted to furrow through the earth on both siriizs of arow of beets, said members being driven by 0 erative connecti on through5 rockets E on 7 counter-shaft I to the shaft I of the traction wheelsB. V

The topping; mechanism proper is preferably secured to thenest-harvester in the following manner: A roller-frame J is secured t0the beetaharvnql'nl' OIVt'S-I'd Of and ill alime- F,chains G, and Q mentwith the digging members. As herein indicated, a convenient place forattaching the device to a harvester of the kind shown is on the(ll'fifhf!'&filfi@. Said I'OllQT-fl't-IIHE J is supported by and rideson a truncated (one or roller, which is rotatively secured therein sothat its axis of rotation lies in a plane transverse to the plane oi thepulling mem hers I) and to the path of motion of the machine, the framepreferably being provided Witha vertical stem j, which may have1ongitudinal sliding engagement in a socket on the draft-frame (I. Saidcone or roller K is mounted on a journal k, which rotates in suitablebearings 9' in said frame J in such a position that its periphery restson the ground the entire length of the roller. Said cone is positivelydriven by suitable mechanism operatively connecting it to thetraction-wheels of the heet harvester, to which it may be attached.Owing to the position of the driving mechanism herein described, theconnecting means comprises a to glejoint L, connecting theroller-journal to a horizontal journal it, mounte in suitable bearingsj. A sprocket-wheel M and sprocket QQIIHEB' tions we drive the journalIf rem the countershaft II of the beet-harvester.

In operation it is best to provide the rollerirarne J with means forlifting it clear of the ground when it is desired to turn the machinearound or move it from the field. As herein illustrated, such meanscomprises link and lever connections with e handle-bar N, which in thisinstance also raises the beet-pulling members in unison with the roller.

The roller or cone'K traverses the ground just ahead of a cutter O, forwhich it acts as a gage. The latter may be of any preferred design ada)ted to cut'the tops of the beet Preferably it comprises a horizontalknifeblade secured at oneend by; an upturned stem 0 to the frame J, itscutting edge being disposed obliquely to the ath of travel of themachine slightly in rear 0 the roller K.

In addition to performing the oil's-c of a gage to the cutter the rollerK is adapted to carry the beet-tops against and across the cutter, so asto give them a posilive shearing movement thereon. In or der toaccomplish this resuit, the roller is positively rotated, so that itssmall end maintains norms} ruling contact with the ground, or it mayhave a rate of s ecd higher than this. Instead of the mec ianism hereinshown for drivin the cone its smaller end may be provided with spurs orstuds, which engage the ground and impart the required slipping contactof the major portion of the cone-surface or with the driving means. Theefficiency of the roller is found to be increased by providing itssurface with a plurality of flutes P, extending transversely to thedirection of motion of its periphery, the flutes gripping the leaves anddrawing them over the knife more firmly than a smooth surface does.

In operation the cones gage the position of the knife or cutter so thatthe latter always tops the beets at a uniform hei 'ht. Furthermore, thecombined rolling and sliding movement of the cone draws the beet-tops inand passes them back over the knife or cutter with a positive movementwhich insures their being severed. The peripheral speed is of coursegreatest at the largest end of the roll, which is forward of theadvanced end of the knife, and as a consequence the beet-to s arecarried along the blade with a diagona sliping motion toward its rearend, so that they fhll outside of the line of action of the pullingmembers. This prevents the latter from becoming clogged with the stalksand leaves and clears a space on the ground on which While, as herein.described, the coned roller is preferable a gage, owing to the lateralmotion with which it sweeps across the cutt er, other forms may be used,the cylindrical being erfectly feasible, provided it is not cspecial ydesired to move the leaves to one side; also, the roller may be usedmerely as a gage, which likewise drags the tops across the cutter andholds the beet-crowns from breaking off before they are completelysevered, other means being used to force the severed portions away fromthe knife.

It is apparent thatbect-to ping mechanism of this description may emounted. on traction-wheels and so operated independently of anybeetulling mechanism, and I may use it so if esire. It is adaptable foruse with any harvester which is mounted on traction-wheels, so thatpositive motion may be given to the roller, provided spurs or spuds arenot used thereon.

()bviouslycnany details in the form and arrangement of parts may bevaried without departing fromthe spirit of the invention, and I do notlimit myself to any particular form or arrangement of parts except asset forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention-1 1. A beet-topper comprising a cutter, a gagefor the cutter riding on the beet-crowns, anr means for driving saidgage, said gage being adapted to coact with the cutter to shear off to sdrawn between them by the cutter in the proper vertical relation to the.beet crowns and means for rotating the gage,

the surface of the age being adapted to draw tops between the gage andcutter, and to coact with the cutter to shear them OK.

3. A beet-to per comprising cutting means and a cone-roller gaging thevertical position of the cutting means.

4. A beet-top er comprising cutting means and a positive M -drivencone-roller gaging the vertical position of the cutting means.

5. A beet-to per comprising cutting means and a cone-r01 er gaging thevertical position of the cutting means positiveliy driven at a speed notless than the speed 0 its small end when said small end is maintainingnormal rolling contact with the ground.

6. A beet-topper comprising cutting means, and a cone roller traversingthe ground in advance of the cutter adapted to maintain said cutter inproper vertical position and to draw beet-tops across the cutting means.

7. A beet-topper comprising a verticallymovable frame, a cutter securedthereto, and a concd roller journaled in said frame, in advance of thecutter, adapted to gage the vertical position of the cutter, andpositively driven at a speed not less than the speed of its small endwhen the latter is maintaining normal rolling contact with the ground.

8. A beet-topper comprising a verticallyniovable frame, a cutter securedthereto, and a coned roller journaled therein slightly in advance of thecutter, adapted to gage the vertical position of said cutter, and meansoperatively connecting said cone to tractionwheels, adapted topositively rotate said cone at a speed not less than the speed of itssmall end when the latter is maintaining normal rollin contact with theground.

9. beet-topper comprising a frame vertically movable a frame su )portedon traction-wheels, a concd rotatabie roller supporting said frameby"'contact with the ground throughout its length, a cutter secured tosaid frame in close proximity to and behind said roller, an adjustableuniversal-joint connection between said roller and a (hive-wheel andoperative connections between said wheel and the traction-wheels of themachine.

It). A beet-topper comprising a frame held in horizontal alinement in aframe supported.

on traction-Wheels and vertically supported by a cone-roller journaledtherein engaging with the round, a cutter secured to said frame in c oseproximity to and behind said lot roller, driving mechanism ada ted torotate In testimony whereof I have hereunto said roller at a speed not1e as 1; an the speed signed my name to this specification in the ID ofits small end when the latter is mainteinpresence of two subscribingWitnesses.

ing normal rolling contact with the ground,

whereby said roller engages and carries beet- GEORGE CONNER' tops dieonell across the cutter and dis- Witnesses: char es 1; em cm the machineat the rear- D. E. PURDY,

war end of said cutter. F. J. SOHROEDER.

